IKEA Drawn Into Horse-Meat Scandal

2/26/2013 4:49AM

IKEA temporarily stopped selling meatballs at some of its European stores after inspectors discovered traces of horse meat in the furniture giant's signature food item. Dr. Richard Fielding, a professor at the University of Hong Kong's school of public health, talks about how the case shines a light on the problems of global food production.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

... the the ... yet all has spread to Swedish chain Ikea after traces of horse meat were found in Swedish meatballs ... I'd ever con joining me now is Richard feel being professor at Hong Kong University in a public health ... professor building thanks AmEx for joining me again and let it ride out there on first and foremost what's wrong with the eating place me ... is there nothing at all ... and ... on the menu and wine restaurant with ... a sushi ... train shuffles ... into all the time ... um ... why is probably quite a ... after reaching a lamb or chicken ... okay so what are the big what might fit the scandal about any Nike is about as far as to withdraw ... all Swedish meatballs from their shells because Jason for me force me where found in the project ... I've been why is that that the scandal ... well I think ... there are a number of reasons one ... because ... our people ... I will see ... him a lot on the bulls ... eye ... the the the company in question ... I don't know very much a bank is me bulls ... certainly with me ... necessary specify any particular animal ... what's the problem is that people ... in some parts of the euro has been buying what they thought would be ... a will ... primarily be in it tends to be sure the founder of the fruits of the animals ... he is there a bigger problem with global food production in it and the fact that you know ... ah product that is this to be beef is actually force me it's ... getting into it what is that say about the overall ... global food production ... the rule is an industrial ... it's a major has been a major industrial ... process ... and three ... the truth the problem with that ... with that is ... I'm ... it's being driven in the market very competitive market ... and if you're on a manufacturer of meat products eyeing the pie is ... I'm a constituent of the meat beef or ... the pool on features fifty percent of your production costs ... to become the model is euro up ... on me for forty percent ... production costs up and you can say ten percent of your production costs ... the benefit ... of it ... to ... say that I'm ... the look of the ... most in five ... consumers get into ... the Prada ... a K especially here in Asia and people seem to be ... a great sense it did I'd given the number of food scandals that have come out of China ... so how can consumers protect themselves and know exactly what's going into their faded ... well is it ethical ... to kill YouTube I resisted because so many things and ... sisters ... this is what he's done it really does the laces the whole series of ... scuttled stretching back decades ... is it ... with the scandal and the euro ... about chicken that was found to contain beef at all approaching ... the chicken had been injected with it I'm sorry ... all the beef and pork ... read it used to be fit to finish at no pun intended to be the top ... I make it more substantial costs increased weight and you can say more ... so it's all about profit is being driven by the US that corporations are ... dependent on how much profit they make up is the road a notch if they can make a Prada ... the generous on profit I may protect a friend ... aam ... will be great if somebody finds something wrong with it and the media ... tend to be a do damage control ... for a ... just ... more responsible corporations that do this ... the the the smaller trees uses or those that sub contract ... announcements ... a ... ministry Jesus nowdays ... um have to rely on ... the data to the companies that bet buying all ... of ... those companies' intense up contracts are on track ... at the end of that they read ... copy shortcut by an extent ... that came out well and again in the consumer is tapped ago ... and it ... as the saying goes you are what you eat said hopefully at we know what we're eating ... this cake ... thanks Dreymann's profess their building training us from Hong Kong University ... for more on that story to get it WS J dot com I'm Deborah con for The Wall Street ...